Book Review: Bonhoeffer Biography

Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas 

I had heard of Dietrich Bonhoeffer as a Christian author. (His best-known book is The Cost of Discipleship.) While perusing book titles about World War II, I came across Bonhoeffer's biography. With a German pastor as the focus, the book provides an interesting perspective on Hitler's Germany. On that troubled stage, Bonhoeffer was influential as both a political and a religious figure.

Bonhoeffer seems an unlikely religious leader. His father was not a Christian, his family did not attend church, and his only early religious instruction was from his mother.  Nevertheless, by age thirteen Bonhoeffer had decided to become a theologian. He studied at Berlin University, where the head of theology viewed the Bible merely as a book to analyze, not completely true,  and not intended to promote a personal relationship with God. After graduating and then spending a year in Spain, Bonhoeffer was still not old enough to be ordained, so he spent a year in America studying at the very liberal Union Theological Seminary.

Bonhoeffer gradually grew in his understanding of Christianity. His father had taught him to analyze carefully, to think independently, and to be absolutely certain of his beliefs before speaking. Perhaps these qualities led him toward theology. As a teenager, Bonhoeffer visited Rome. Impressed with the pomp and ceremony, he equated this to devotion and believed he was beginning to understand the concept of the church. At the university he did have one professor who taught strongly about a relationship with God.

Oddly, it was during Bonhoeffer's time studying in America that his life changed dramatically. Disappointed with the liberal theology of the school and the spiritually dead churches he visited, he found a church that was different. At an African-American church in New York City, and later as he traveled in the southern United States, he was exposed to genuine Christianity - people who possessed, taught, and lived the truth. He returned to Germany a changed man.

Bonhoeffer's ministry was varied and international. He did a great deal of writing as well as preaching. He gave lectures and met with small groups of young people for discussions. He was a pastor for a time in London and also visited other countries for religious meetings and conferences. Probably his most influential work was as a nationally-respected church leader. The church faced an intense battle as the Nazis intended to destroy Christianity in Germany. Though the Nazis' initial changes were small and subtle, Bonhoeffer was perceptive to recognize the danger early on. The German Christians (officially-recognized churches) faced the question of compromise. In order to establish a clear foundation for truth, Bonhoeffer gathered a group of pastors to write a doctrinal confession to which the church must cling.

Some churches compromised, but many others became part of the Confessing Church, so named because they affirmed the confession that had been written. Bonhoeffer was the leader of these uncompromising churches and worked both within Germany and internationally to have the Confessing Church recognized as the true church of Germany. Since no institutions were available to train pastors for the unrecognized Confessing Church, Bonhoeffer started a seminary. When the seminary was shut down, he came up with an internship program in which groups of aspiring pastors could train under supervising pastors. The church faced increasing oppression but remained strong. In one year more than 800 pastors and lay leaders were arrested by the Nazis, yet the churches were overflowing every week.

Bonhoeffer was also important in Germany's politics. This role is less surprising, as both of his parents came from distinguished backgrounds. The family was quite well off and had numerous important connections. When World War II started, Bonhoeffer was convinced the war was unjust and decided that he could not fight in it. As a well-respected leader of the Confessing Church, he found himself in a quandary. If he refused to enlist, he would be killed, and he did not want his example to create pressure for all Christians to do the same. Bonhoeffer avoided military service for as long as he could; when his mandatory enlistment became imminent, he procured a last-minute deferment of his enlistment for one year by returning to America to study.

After less than a month in America, Bonhoeffer rethought his decision and realized that he must return to his work in Germany. Still under his one-year deferment, he applied for a non-combat position, but was denied. He then joined the Abwehr both to avoid fighting and because of the powerful movement within the Abwehr to overthrow Hitler. As part of the intelligence community, Bonhoeffer was closely involved with the conspirators, involved in actions including the Valkyrie plot, and he used his international connections to solicit support for the conspirators. He continued his pastoring ministry, ironically as his cover in his intelligence position.

Through the arrest of another conspirator, Bonhoeffer came to the attention of the Gestapo and was arrested, though only for minor charges. After the plot to kill Hitler failed, Bonhoeffer was implicated and transferred to a Gestapo prison and then Buchenwald. When the assassination conspirators were gathered together to be killed, Bonhoeffer was missing. He had been mistakenly put with the wrong group of prisoners in a different location. Gestapo guards arrived at Bonhoeffer's location just as he was completing a worship service, and he was taken to be executed with the others. He died only two weeks before the Allied troops arrived.

I would recommend this biography about a man who lived by convictions and remained faithful to the end. It was interesting to see the aspects of World War II and Christianity combined to illustrate what it is like for a devoted Christian in a difficult situation. My biggest caution is that Bonhoeffer did not begin with a strong fundamental foundation; even with his great Biblical insight, he was heavily involved in ecumenical work. Most notably he worked hard to establish a strong national church as well as to strengthen religious institutions with international oversight and guidance. He also expressed interest in learning from and imitating aspects of Catholicism and learning of Gandhi's methods. 

The book is well-researched, supported with many excerpts from letters and other writings. I found the story compelling, especially for someone with an interest in history. The overall action of the story moves well and presents a clear idea of this man's life. This biography also incorporates some information not previously available which clears up some of the shadows that have previously fallen on Bonhoeffer.